Simon Boyleau
Encyclopedia
Simon Boyleau was a French
composer of the Renaissance
, active in northern Italy
. A prolific composer of madrigals
as well as sacred music, he was closely connected with the court of Marguerite of Savoy
. He was also the earliest documented choirmaster at the church of Santa Maria presso San Celso
in Milan.
Nothing is known of his early life. A French origin is indicated by three bits of evidence: his name, a dedication he left in a manuscript book of madrigals, in which he said he was of French nationality, and a comment by the Padua
n publisher of his 1546 collection of madrigals for four voices that he was French. During this period many musicians from France and the Low Countries
came to Italy after receiving their early musical training in the north; employment and patronage prospects were greater in Italy throughout most of the 16th century.
Although the exact events are not documented, scholars have inferred that Boyleau probably spent his first Italian years in Venice, due to musical influences seen in his work as well as their publication history. In 1551 he became maestro di cappella (choirmaster) at Milan Cathedral, his earliest documented post; he held this position until 1557, at which time he was replaced by Hoste da Reggio
. Boyleau's next position was as maestro di cappella at the church of Santa Maria presso San Celso
, also in Milan; he was the first documented maestro di cappella at this institution, and he stayed there until around 1569. In 1572 Milan Cathedral hired him again, first as assistant to Vincenzo Ruffo
, and then as maestro di cappella, the job he had left (or been dismissed from) fifteen years before. The Cathedral dismissed him again in 1577.
Boyleau had long had close ties with the court of Marguerite of Savoy
, as evident from music he dedicated to Marguerite and her husband, Emanuele Filiberto
, many years earlier; these ties helped him gain a post at Turin Cathedral in 1582. Turin was then the capital of the Duchy of Savoy
, thanks to the terms of the Peace of Cateau Cambrésis which ended the Italian War of 1551–1559. Boyleau kept this post until 1585, but it is not known how long he lived after dismissal, or if he stayed in Turin. A payment record from the Savoy court in 1586 indicates he was still alive in that year.
for instruments.
His sacred music was conservative and tended to be modest, as could be expected for a musician working in Milan, the home of Cardinal Carlo Borromeo, the principal force behind the musical reforms during the Council of Trent
(complex polyphony
, unclarity of diction, and "immodesty" were among the qualities for which contemporary musicians were criticized by the Council). He wrote a book of motets which he dedicated to Giovanni da Legge, the procurator at St. Mark's in Venice in 1544; he may have been seeking a job there, the most prestigious musical institution in northern Italy. After moving to Milan he wrote a series of settings of the Magnificat
which he dedicated to Borromeo. Stylistically these works are in conformance with the dictates of the Council of Trent in their scope, declamation, and overall.
Boyleau's secular music consists of madrigal
s and canzoni
, published or copied in six books, only three of which have survived. His style spans the period from the late 1530s or early 1540s, the early history of the madrigal, as it was practiced in Venice, to the 1560s, at which time composers were experimenting with chromaticism
and greater textural contrast; Boyleau showed in his work that he kept current with prevailing trends.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
composer of the Renaissance
Renaissance music
Renaissance music is European music written during the Renaissance. Defining the beginning of the musical era is difficult, given that its defining characteristics were adopted only gradually; musicologists have placed its beginnings from as early as 1300 to as late as the 1470s.Literally meaning...
, active in northern Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. A prolific composer of madrigals
Madrigal (music)
A madrigal is a secular vocal music composition, usually a partsong, of the Renaissance and early Baroque eras. Traditionally, polyphonic madrigals are unaccompanied; the number of voices varies from two to eight, and most frequently from three to six....
as well as sacred music, he was closely connected with the court of Marguerite of Savoy
Margaret of France, Duchess of Berry
Margaret of Valois, Duchess of Berry was the daughter of King Francis I of France and Claude, Duchess of Brittany.-Early life:Margaret was born at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye...
. He was also the earliest documented choirmaster at the church of Santa Maria presso San Celso
Santa Maria presso San Celso
Santa Maria dei Miracoli presso San Celso is a church and a sanctuary in Milan, Lombardy, northern Italy.-History and overview:The construction was begun by Gian Giacomo Dolcebuono and Giovanni Battagio in 1493, to house a miraculous icon of the Madonna, initially on the central plan...
in Milan.
Biography
Padua
Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua's population is 212,500 . The city is sometimes included, with Venice and Treviso, in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area, having...
n publisher of his 1546 collection of madrigals for four voices that he was French. During this period many musicians from France and the Low Countries
Low Countries
The Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....
came to Italy after receiving their early musical training in the north; employment and patronage prospects were greater in Italy throughout most of the 16th century.
Although the exact events are not documented, scholars have inferred that Boyleau probably spent his first Italian years in Venice, due to musical influences seen in his work as well as their publication history. In 1551 he became maestro di cappella (choirmaster) at Milan Cathedral, his earliest documented post; he held this position until 1557, at which time he was replaced by Hoste da Reggio
Hoste da Reggio
Hoste da Reggio was an Italian composer of the Renaissance, active in Milan and elsewhere in northern Italy. He was well-known for his madrigals, which were published in several collections in Venice.-Life:...
. Boyleau's next position was as maestro di cappella at the church of Santa Maria presso San Celso
Santa Maria presso San Celso
Santa Maria dei Miracoli presso San Celso is a church and a sanctuary in Milan, Lombardy, northern Italy.-History and overview:The construction was begun by Gian Giacomo Dolcebuono and Giovanni Battagio in 1493, to house a miraculous icon of the Madonna, initially on the central plan...
, also in Milan; he was the first documented maestro di cappella at this institution, and he stayed there until around 1569. In 1572 Milan Cathedral hired him again, first as assistant to Vincenzo Ruffo
Vincenzo Ruffo
Vincenzo Ruffo was an Italian composer of the Renaissance. He was one of the composers most responsive to the musical reforms suggested by the Council of Trent, especially in his composition of masses, and as such was an influential member of the Counter-Reformation.Vincenzo Ruffo was born at...
, and then as maestro di cappella, the job he had left (or been dismissed from) fifteen years before. The Cathedral dismissed him again in 1577.
Boyleau had long had close ties with the court of Marguerite of Savoy
Margaret of France, Duchess of Berry
Margaret of Valois, Duchess of Berry was the daughter of King Francis I of France and Claude, Duchess of Brittany.-Early life:Margaret was born at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye...
, as evident from music he dedicated to Marguerite and her husband, Emanuele Filiberto
Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy
Emmanuel Philibert was Duke of Savoy from 1553 to 1580....
, many years earlier; these ties helped him gain a post at Turin Cathedral in 1582. Turin was then the capital of the Duchy of Savoy
Duchy of Savoy
From 1416 to 1847, the House of Savoy ruled the eponymous Duchy of Savoy . The Duchy was a state in the northern part of the Italian Peninsula, with some territories that are now in France. It was a continuation of the County of Savoy...
, thanks to the terms of the Peace of Cateau Cambrésis which ended the Italian War of 1551–1559. Boyleau kept this post until 1585, but it is not known how long he lived after dismissal, or if he stayed in Turin. A payment record from the Savoy court in 1586 indicates he was still alive in that year.
Music and influence
Boyleau wrote both sacred and secular music. Everything which has survived is vocal, although some of his compositions were later intabulatedIntabulation
Intabulation, from the Italian word intavolatura, refers to an arrangement of a vocal or ensemble piece for keyboard, lute, or other plucked string instrument, written in tablature. It was a common practice in 14th-16th century keyboard and lute music...
for instruments.
His sacred music was conservative and tended to be modest, as could be expected for a musician working in Milan, the home of Cardinal Carlo Borromeo, the principal force behind the musical reforms during the Council of Trent
Council of Trent
The Council of Trent was the 16th-century Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. It is considered to be one of the Church's most important councils. It convened in Trent between December 13, 1545, and December 4, 1563 in twenty-five sessions for three periods...
(complex polyphony
Polyphony
In music, polyphony is a texture consisting of two or more independent melodic voices, as opposed to music with just one voice or music with one dominant melodic voice accompanied by chords ....
, unclarity of diction, and "immodesty" were among the qualities for which contemporary musicians were criticized by the Council). He wrote a book of motets which he dedicated to Giovanni da Legge, the procurator at St. Mark's in Venice in 1544; he may have been seeking a job there, the most prestigious musical institution in northern Italy. After moving to Milan he wrote a series of settings of the Magnificat
Magnificat
The Magnificat — also known as the Song of Mary or the Canticle of Mary — is a canticle frequently sung liturgically in Christian church services. It is one of the eight most ancient Christian hymns and perhaps the earliest Marian hymn...
which he dedicated to Borromeo. Stylistically these works are in conformance with the dictates of the Council of Trent in their scope, declamation, and overall.
Boyleau's secular music consists of madrigal
Madrigal (music)
A madrigal is a secular vocal music composition, usually a partsong, of the Renaissance and early Baroque eras. Traditionally, polyphonic madrigals are unaccompanied; the number of voices varies from two to eight, and most frequently from three to six....
s and canzoni
Canzonetta
In music, a canzonetta was a popular Italian secular vocal composition which originated around 1560...
, published or copied in six books, only three of which have survived. His style spans the period from the late 1530s or early 1540s, the early history of the madrigal, as it was practiced in Venice, to the 1560s, at which time composers were experimenting with chromaticism
Chromaticism
Chromaticism is a compositional technique interspersing the primary diatonic pitches and chords with other pitches of the chromatic scale. Chromaticism is in contrast or addition to tonality or diatonicism...
and greater textural contrast; Boyleau showed in his work that he kept current with prevailing trends.